Choosing an Affordable Spa Day in the Coachella Valley

Visited December 2022

There are bountiful spa choices throughout the entire Coachella Valley in Southern California. Not being a local, I wanted the perfect place for my daughter and me to enjoy a lovely day together in ultimate peace and relaxation at a reasonable price. I asked a few locals for their recommendations. Traveling to Desert Hot Springs wasn’t suggested, but we found an affordable spa in an unlikely location. Our main goal was immersing ourselves in the healing mineral waters, and where else can you do that better than Desert Hot Springs? This city is fed by one of the finest naturally occurring hot water aquifers. Erupting from below, these waters are naturally infused with healing minerals.

Beyond reading online reviews with a grain of salt, I’ve learned from experience to give more weight to reviews that focus on my priorities and ignore certain types of reviews. Everyone has their perspective of what a perfect spa day is. We concentrated on our personal spa day wish list, which included relaxation, massage, sauna, and soaking in mineral pools. Stellar service and cleanliness are something we were not willing to compromise either. After reading countless reviews, we chose La Bella Spa at Tuscan Springs Hotel and Spa in Desert Hot Springs because I felt it met the desired standards.

We scheduled our massages for a Sunday afternoon and had arranged a presoak prior to our services. We were chatting and enjoying one another's company and the desert landscape on our drive from Palm Springs and didn’t even notice we had arrived at our destination. From the moment we were met at the door by the owner, we felt we had exited the world into our private hideaway. The outside world melted away. She gave us robes, towels, and a secured locker for our belongings, all of which were complimentary of our spa service.

A quick tour of the exquisite property followed. The Italian-inspired architecture throughout the entire property was charming. The water fountains were splashing in harmony. The multiple lounging areas with wrought iron chairs and loungers with comfortable red cushions, tables, and chairs to enjoy a cup of coffee, or wine or bring in a meal from one of the many surrounding restaurants. The magnificent mountain view backdrop, everything was marvelous. I wondered is this what it feels like to be in Italy?

Tuscan Springs Hotel and Spa has two natural hot springs mineral jacuzzis, and one large hot mineral pool. All of the water is pumped from a 350 aqua well and is naturally volcanically heated to 117 degrees. However, all three pools are held at varying temperatures to provide swimming and soaking comfort. We enjoyed spending time trying out each of the three mineral pools. Depending on what part of the day you are there, sun or shade, hot or cold, no doubt you can find the ideal temperature. We were so pleased to check off another one of our expectations; the water was crystal clear and sparkling clean in each mineral pool.

Next on our list was the dry sauna. The staff guided us on how to start the sauna. We waited ten minutes for the sauna to be ready, then sat on our towels and enjoyed the peacefulness in a small private space that could fit two people comfortably.

After almost two hours of much-needed girl talk, it was time for our massages. Walking back to the spa area, we were in awe of our surroundings and stunned that we had enjoyed the sauna, all three mineral pools, and the multiple lounging areas entirely to ourselves for almost two hours. Talk about the perfection of booking on a Sunday afternoon.

We met our therapists in the spa and enjoyed our mother/daughter massage package, one of the many special packages La Bella Spa offers on their website. We chose the Tuscan Signature Massage Treatment, which is tailored to each guest using multiple massage techniques, including Swedish, Lomi-Lomi, Deep Tissue, Acupressure, and others. My masseuse asked me if I had any particular areas causing discomfort or pain. At the time, I didn’t feel I had any, but she found every one of the knots I forgot I had and more. My experience ended up being a legitimate therapeutic massage. Aromatically calming my mind, this treatment uses pure essential oils, and hot towels placed on my neck and back was a delightful bonus.

Following our massages, we had facials. While waiting for my appointment, I again soaked in my favorite mineral pool with a pergola for extra sun protection. Also where I had the best views and eclectic surroundings that brought pure bliss and calmness to my soul. I met a local man also relaxing in one of the mineral pools, and we began chatting. He shared that he tried to get a massage and soak at La Bella Spa once a week. I asked him why he chose this particular spa with so many options in the area. His insight was that all the masseuses are wonderful here, and this is just such a beautiful, quiet and peaceful place to relax. Inside information from a local, what a hidden gem this place is.

The owner and staff set out to make this a place of tranquility. The Tuscan Hotel and Spa met and exceeded my expectations and checked everything off our wish list. Not only was the service outstanding, the kindness and smiles from every staff member during our visit made us feel spoiled and appreciated.

When you visit Tuscan Hotel and Spa, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Bring your swimsuits, no matter the outdoor temperature; you’ll be glad you did.

• A 60 min service includes four hours at the day spa to soak and lounge. Let them know if you want to come before your appointment to enjoy the amenities.

• If you don’t plan a treatment, you can purchase a Day Spa pass, which gives you access to 3 mineral pools, a sauna, and multiple lounging areas, a perfect way to enjoy the afternoon.

• French press coffee, tea, or water is available, and you can bring snacks or drinks inside, which I highly recommend.

• This is an Adult ONLY Hotel and Spa.

If you’re looking for ways to relax and de-stress, I encourage you to take some time in the healing waters of Desert Hot Springs.